Earring with vertically adjustable lobe contacting member

ABSTRACT

A spring clip assembly is slidably mounted on an earring post and adapted for clamping into position along a selected point on the post. The clip has apertures therein to admit a bow-shaped arm which gently contacts the wearer&#39;&#39;s earlobe upon proper positioning of the spring clip. The bow-shaped arm has an elongated slot formed therein to allow its sliding displacement relative to the post so that the wearer can adjust the arm to a position affording the most even restraining force distribution on the lobe. By properly positioning the arm, the earring wearer is spared from painful force concentration.

United States Patent [72] lnventor AaronMasters 1155 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ.

7201 [21] Appl. No. 4,267 [22] Filed Jan. 20, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] EARRING WITH VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE LOBE CONTACTING MEMBER 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 63/12, 24/ 108 [51] Int. Cl A44c 7/00 [50] Field of Search 63/12, 13; 24/108, 90.5

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 527.359 10/1894 Bonner 63/13 1,240,845 9/1917 Hage 24/905 298,987 5/1884 Krementz 63/12 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,117,966 6/1968 Great Britain .1 63/12 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay AnorneysC1arence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A spring clip assembly is slidably mounted on an earring post and adapted for clamping into position along a selected point on the post. The clip has apertures therein to admit a bow-shaped arm which gently contacts the wearers earlobe upon proper positioning of the spring clip. The bowshaped arm has an elongated slot formed therein to allow its sliding displacement relative to the post so that the wearer can adjust the arm to a position affording the most even restraining force distribution on the lobe. By properly positioning the arm, the earring wearer is spared from painful force concentration.

PATENTEB UEC28 1971 Fig./

Aaron Masters INVENTOR.

and

EARRING WITII VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE LOBE CONTACTING MEMBER The present invention relates to earring structures and more particularly to a post assembly for pierced ear earrings.

During the present time, in order to secure earrings to pierced lobes, earring posts are threaded and a mating nut is screwed on until the lobe is clamped between the ornamental portion of the earring and the nut. This is a difficult and frustrating experience, particularly to an individual who has just undergone piercing. A second type of post structure includes an unthreaded shank or post which mounts a spring clip that is forced against the back of the earlobe to perform a clamping function. With either of these assemblies, a great force concentration is brought to bear against the tissue of the pierced lobe and in the case of a freshly pierced ear, the healing process is delayed because of these forces.

The present invention includes a post assembly which engages the wearers earlobe at a point removed from the actual incision. Further, the present post assembly includes bowshaped arms slidably positioned on the rod which distributes earring retaining forces along points removed from the lobe incision so that more comfortable wear can be effected.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of the present post assembly on a wearer's lobe.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the figures, the present post assembly is generally indicated by reference numeral and in the figure, the assemblys relation to a wearer's earlobe 12 is depicted. As will be appreciated, the figures are directed to an earring particularly suited for pierced ears. However, an adaptation of the post assembly incorporating the present invention is easily fabricated in light of the teaching herein.

The assembly includes a straight post 14 terminating outwardly at one end thereof in an earring ornamentation 16 which does not, per se, form a part of the present invention. A retaining spring clip or clamping member 18 discussed in greater detail herein is slidably mounted on post 14 and becomes manually clamped along a selected point on post 14. The spring clip 18 includes openings to allow passage of a bow-shaped arm 20 therethrough. The purpose of the arm is to keep the spring clip displaced from the incision in the lobe and to exert earring retention forces at points removed from the incision. Also, by virtue of the fact that arm 20 contacts the lobe at two points instead of a single concentrated point, the earring retention forces are distributed in a less painful manner.

Referring to FIG. 2, the structure of the spring clip 18 is seen to include a tapered aperture 22 which forms a guide for post 14. The remaining portion of the spring clip generally resembles the FIG. 8 with arcuate sections 24 extending around into contact with post 14 at terminal end portions 26. These end portions clamp against post 14 thereby biasing the spring clip at a preselected point along the post. When the wearer wishes to change the position of the spring clip relative to the post 14, the end portions 26 are spread apart so that the spring clip can freely slide along the post. The arcuate sections 24 of the spring clip include vertically aligned apertures 28 to permit passage of an intermediate portion 30 of the bowshaped arm 20. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the major portion of the bow-shaped shaped arm includes an elongated slot 32 therein which embraces the post 14. Thus, the arm 20 can be positioned relative to the post until the most comfortable position of the arm relative to the lobe is achieved. FIG. 4 illustrates upward (36) and downward (38) adjusting displacement of the arm relative to the post.

In practice, the bow-shaped arm 20 is positioned relative to post 14 until the outwardly flared ends 34 of the arm conform most closely to the contours of the earlobe which will generally achieve a most comfortable position. This relationship between the arm and the lobe is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 which further illustrates the lack of pressure producing components from the incision 40 in the wearer's lobe.

Adjustment of arm 20 of the present invention offers the attendant advantage of urging a selected ear lobe portion outwardly so that the user can direct the ornamental portion of the earring in a direction best suited to the facial structure and appearance. This is particularly relevant where a large weighty earring is worn, such earring having the tendency to cause the lobe to sag or droop. Another instance of relevancy occurs with ear lobes that are large, fleshy and lacking rigidity.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. An earring post assembly comprising a post, an earring ornament at one end thereof, a clamping member positioned on the post, earring retaining means mounted to the member for engaging a wearer's lobe when the clamping member is properly positioned whereby the retaining means distributes forces exerted on the lobe resulting in comfort to the wearer, said retaining means comprising an arm diametrically extending from the post and having end portions adapted to contact the lobe, said clamping member having apertures therein for receiving an intermediate portion of the arm, said arm having an elongated slot to allow sliding adjustment of the arm with respect to the post to a position affording the wearer comfort.

2. The earring and post assembly defined in and according to claim 1, said arm being bow-shaped and having free end portions which are flared outwardly and away from the ear in a manner to engage portions of said ear lobe at diametrically opposite points spaced from the portion of the ear lobe which has been pierced.

3. The structure set forth in claim I wherein the arm is bow shaped and further wherein the arm portions are arcuately upturned to gently contact the wearer's lobe.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein the clamping member is a spring clip having a central opening for admitting the post therethrough, the clip further having arcuate end portions for clamping the post therebetween which effects selective positioning of the clip on the post.

5. An earring and post assembly comprising a straight rigid post adapted to pass through the pierced portion of a human ear and having an outer end provided with an ornament, a post positioning and retaining clip having a median body portion provided with a post opening and arcuately turned-in portions with free terminal ends, said post passing through said opening, said terminal ends being yieldingly and clampingly engageable with diametrically opposite surface portions of said post, said arcuately turned-in portions being in a common plane and having aligned apertures, an elongated bowed arm having an elongated slot, the slotted portion of said arm passing through and beyond the respectively cooperable apertures in said turned-in portions and having free end portions which are flared outwardly and away from the ear in a manner to reside in contact with portions of the ear lobe, a median portion of said post passing through a predetermined median portion of said slot.

6. The earring and post assembly defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said bowed arm is yieldable and is of a length that it can be manually shifted and adjusted relative to said post and also said clip.

1- e t t t g 

1. An earring post assembly comprising a post, an earring ornament at one end thereof, a clamping member positioned on the post, earring retaining means mounted to the member for engaging a wearer''s lobe when the clamping member is properly positioned whereby the retaining means distributes forces exerted on the lobe resulting in comfort to the wearer, said retaining means comprising an arm diametrically extending from the post and having end portions adapted to contact the lobe, said clamping member having apertures therein for receiving an intermediate portion of the arm, said arm having an elongated slot to allow sliding adjustment of the arm with respect to the post to a position affording the wearer comfort.
 2. The earring and post assembly defined in and according to claim 1, said arm being bow-shaped and having free end portions which are flared outwardly and away from the ear in a manner to engage portions of said ear lobe at diametrically opposite points spaced from the portion of the ear lobe which has been pierced.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the arm is bow shaped and further wherein the arm portions are arcuately upturned to gently contact the wearer''s lobe.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein the clamping member is a spring clip having a central opening for admitting the post therethrough, the clip further having arcuate end portions for clamping the post therebetween which effects selective positioning of the clip on the post.
 5. An earring and post assembly comprising a straight rigid post adapted to pass through the pierced portion of a human ear and having an outer end provided with an ornament, a post positioning and retaining clip having a median body portion provided with a post opening and arcuately turned-in portions with free terminal ends, said post passing through said opening, said terminal ends being yieldingly and clampingly engageable with diametrically opposite surface portions of said post, said arcuately turned-in portions being in a common plane and having aligned apertures, an elongated bowed arm having an elongated slot, the slotted portion of said arm passing through and beyond the respectively cooperable apertures in said turned-in portions and having free end portions which are flared outwardly and away from the ear in a manner to reside in contact with portions of the ear lobe, a median portion of said post passing through a predetermined median portion of said slot.
 6. The earring and post assembly defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said bowed arm is yieldable and is of a length that it can be manually shifted and adjusted relative to said post and also said clip. 